Touted linebacker Trey DePriest chooses Alabama over Ohio State

Springfield News-SunTrey DePriest is not only a linebacker. He's played quarterback, running back and even kicker and punter for his high school team in Ohio.

Alabama picked up commitment No. 16 today in the form of highly coveted linebacker Trey DePriest of Springfield, Ohio.

The 6-foot-2, 230 pound DePriest committed to Alabama over local favorite Ohio State moments ago at a restaurant near his home. Rivals has DePriest as a four-star prospect on its five-star scale and the nation's sixth-best linebacker. Scout has him as a five-star and the nation's third-best linebacker.

Vinnie's father Sal, Alabama's outside linebackers coach, played a prominent role in prying DePriest from the Buckeyes.

"The initial thought was that he was going to go to Ohio State, because he's extremely close to mom and grandma and grandpa here in town," Springfield High coach Rick Robertson said. "But they've been great, because from the get-go they said, 'Trey, don't worry about us. You do what's best for you.' That's given him some flexibility to look at different places. I know he's hit it off with Coach (Sal) Sunseri. I can't deny that. When he has an opportunity to talk to Sal, comparing his body language and demeanor when he talks to other coaches, it's night and day."

Per Robertson, DePriest is "a pretty talented kid," who played roughly 80-85 percent of the team's snaps last year, serving at times as linebacker, quarterback, running back, punter and kicker.

DePriest turned 17 in June and is planning to graduate high school early and enroll for spring practice, a growing trend among recruits.

Read more here on DePriest from his hometown newspaper, the Springfield News-Sun and check out a highlight video below (mind the music) ...